French Open men's quarterfinal halted as spectators injured
The men's quarterfinal match between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Kei Nishikori had to be halted in the middle of the second set, as high winds knocked loose a large piece of metal that covers part of the video scoreboard. The metal crashed into the stands, hitting spectators.
"Wind broke one of the lights, it came down and hit a woman. She has a pretty significant cut on her arm, and that's what they're attending to now," a Tennis Channel announcer said amongst confusion in the stands. He later corrected himself to say it was a piece of paneling, and that it hit a man and a small boy.
The incident pic.twitter.com/p7NQHP8joI
— Steph Trudel (@TrudelSteph) June 2, 2015
"The day we tore down Philippe Chatrier" pic.twitter.com/M4Y7XO3fkG
— René Denfeld (@Renestance) June 2, 2015
Several reporters desribed the scene within the stadium:
I'm told by fans that there was a "lot of blood." & that a man who went to cover his head was hit in arm. "It's a bad injury," a woman says
— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) June 2, 2015
A teary child in a black Nike hat escorted out of stadium as he holds his head, and another older man waving as he's walked out. #RG15
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 2, 2015
The danger area has been taped off, spectators ushered who knows where, players back on court knocking up.... pic.twitter.com/Tv126Tyjt1
— Piers Newbery (@piersnewbery) June 2, 2015
An ambulance inside the hall of Chatrier. "At least two people are injured," an usher tells me #RG15
— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) June 2, 2015
Earlier this week, a council voted down a proposal to update the Roland Garros grounds, the oldest of the Grand Slam facilities, according to the Tennis Channel.
Officials cleared two sections of the stands. Play was been halted for about 30 minutes, with Tsonga leading 6-1, 5-2.
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Danielle Elliot is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact her at delliot@yahoo-inc.com or find her on Twitter and Facebook.